Fishing Report

Fishing Report

January 01, 1998|By DON LANCASTER Daily Press

SALTWATER

High winds and cloudy, rainy weather have reduced the number of anglers reporting in since the Christmas holidays. There are still plenty of fish in the area, but the bad weather has again reared its wicked head.

CBB-T. I was at Wallace's Bait and Tackle Saturday when Billy Conners of Hampton brought in a cooler and asked to weigh some of his catch from Friday evening.

As he opened his cooler, I knew why he had come by. The first fish he pulled out of the cooler looked to be close to a citation, and in fact was close, weighing 37 pounds, 8 ounces. The next three fish weighed 32 pounds, 8 ounces; 27 pounds, 8 ounces; and 23 pounds.

Conners said he was fishing with Brian and Jay Epestein, casting bucktails at night in an area ``between the Fourth Island and the High Rise.''

Another report from Wallace's was that Richard Baber recorded a 45-inch release citation striper, caught at the High Rise.

Curtis Hall, fishing on the Debra Ann at Cape Henry, limited out with his top fish going 34 pounds. Other boats fishing there had limits weighing up to 29 pounds.

LOWER BAY

Back River: Anglers fishing in the vicinity of Factory Point have been catching limits of fish up to 22 inches.

James River area: Although the exact locations remain a secret, several of the regular lower James striper anglers have been having excellent success on fish up to 28 inches. Night fishing at the James River Bridge has been quite productive. I fished three evenings with Carl Myers and Ed Harlow, and caught fish two of the three trips. The third trip we had only one bite and caught one 20-inch fish.

FRESH WATER

Reports from the Chickahominy River/Lake area are that several stripers in the 5-8 pound range are being taken on both artificial lures and on large minnows.

Don Monahan of Hopewell landed a beautiful 19-pound, 8-ounce blue catfish. Other anglers have been having excellent success on crappie and yellow perch.

Chickahominy Lake has had several citation crappie (2 pounds) brought in and several citation white perch (1 pound, 4 ounces).

BASSARAMA. ``The World's Most Exciting Fishing Show'' is coming to the Virginia State Fairgrounds in Richmond Jan. 23-25. I will have a complete rundown in next week's column.

NEW LAW. Effective today, a Certificate of Title and a Certificate of Number (registration) will be required for all watercraft. In other words, all motorboats registered must also be titled. Since 1982, only vessels 15 feet or longer and powered by a motor in excess of 25 horsepower required titling.

DON'S TIP. Whether you are a freshwater or saltwater angler, you are now required to have a 1998 fishing license. Take time to purchase yours.

THANKS. To all the marinas and tackle shops for your support in making this column a success. I'll be calling each of you in the new year.